After graduating high school, Josh Hooker of San Diego enlisted in the United States Army and served as a member of an Army Scout team. In the summer of 2006, while deployed to Iraq, Josh's left leg was mangled in an explosion from an IED that struck the Humvee he was riding in. His good friend was killed before his eyes. Josh endured dozens of surgeries and skin grafts and was mostly bedridden. In an effort to regain his mobility, Josh decided to have his left leg amputated below the knee. Soon after, he was riding a bike again. With a bike borrowed from a friend, Josh began cycling throughout the city and would at times cycle up to 50 miles in a day. He now volunteers with CAF Operation Rebound and Canine Companions for Independence Veterans in addition to working as a high school football coach in San Diego.